jess9395

Yea I had to give myself injections in my stomach for a week following surgery.

Thank you!

Yes! They have them at most of our local grocery stores in CA--Von's, Albertsons I have even seen them at Walmart but not consistently.

Awesome because I can't squeeze my runner calves into skinny jeans unless they are two sizes too big for the rest of me!

I did tons of Biotin. I did probiotics. I did collagen and Vitamin E and other creams. I did keratin. I did dry brushing. I did weight training and running. I got all my Protein in. I still lost hair and had a ton of loose skin (but a body fat of 18%!) It's genetics and age and skin type. Not a lot you can do.

Parrot Bay coconut Water margaritas! Tiny little cans about half the size of a soda can. Probably don't have them at a bar, but it's my drink of choice at home or a party. Low in sugar and the coconut water makes me feel kinda healthy LOL. The alcohol content is pretty low (my mother in law had one at my house once and asked me if it was non alcoholic) but it's plenty for me! The alcohol hits me hard post sleeve but like many have said, it's gone quickly.

As for why? No clue but it happens every time I've had any abdominal surgery--c section, gall bladder removed, WLS and tummy tuck

Yeah pretty normal if you are feeling it while using your abdominal muscles to stand up. Hold a pillow against your stomach/incisions/abdominal muscles while you rise and it helps a ton!

Like others I had c section, gall bladder removed and a laprascopic tubal ligation and had no problems, my surgeon never looked at my old records. Then I had a Tummy tuck and all those old scars are gone for the most part LoL--traded them for one big long one

Yeah ditto what others have said, a pound a day is a LOT!!!! It will slow and stall and start back up again throughout the process. Keep your expectations realistic! You won't keep losing it this FAST be happy!

Oh my goodness I can so relate! I reached goal in December with the help of a LOT of running and yoga. Ran my first marathon in May and had my plastic surgery two weeks later and was told to stop exercise for six weeks. Doctor actually finally cleared me after SEVEN weeks and I was so so so afraid I would gain! Well I kept on top of it and didn't gain and actually lost (and more than he removed through plastics) and now and slowly working my running mileage back up and getting back in prime yoga shape. YOU CAN DO IT! Do whatever it is you know you need to do whether it's tracking or avoiding trigger foods or doing a back to basics reset IF you find things getting lax, if not then it's all good, but the worry is normal and will keep you on track.

Can you elaborate please? What happened after you ate the grapes? Who sent you to the emergency room? You were in the hospital for a week to stabilize what condition that was caused by the grapes? I'm shocked! I would love to hear more! To the OP- Like others on here I have been eating moderate amounts of fruit since about three months out. You mention acid--are you on any medications to reduce the acid? Many of us needed them for the first little while after surgery. I took prescription pantaprozole for two months.

My doctor is fine with coffee consumption as long as you don't have existing acid issues (GERD, etc). I stopped for three months to allow for healing and now am back to my two cups a day. Hasn't given me any issues. Recent studies show that coffee/caffeine may not actually be dehydrating. People have posted links here you can search for (or do a google search). Anyhow, you know you can tell if you are hydrated by the color of your urine (straw colored or lighter is good) and I've never had a problem with hydration or acid since bout three weeks out (ie way before I stated drinking coffee again). So I've now given up coffee three times--for each pregnancy and for WLS and gone back to it each time LoL!

Yeah I can't get all mine in with food either but I still like the tips in the article for the food I can eat!

Should fit into your plan well then. I know a cup of quinoa is a bit over 100g carbs so 1/4 c should fit into your day well if you plan for it. They are def high quality carbs! What is my carb goal? Well I am in maintenance so it's different from when I was losing. When I was losing I didn't have a number, it was to keep carbs to incidental and not a choice by themselves. So carbs in Greek Yogert or milk were fine but foods that were primarily carbs were reserved for only very occasional treats or for running fuel (I run 20-30 miles a week regularly). So my rule of thumb was to consume at least twice as many grams of Protein as I did carb grams. I aimed for 80-100g protein so by default that was 40-50g carbs. Now that I am in maintenance I have more carbs but if I have too many they become a trigger food for me. I still aim for a 1:2 carb to protein ratio, but am fine as long as my carb grams are less than my protein grams. So if I were to consume 100g of carbs in a day I would have to be eating 100+ g of protein that day.

Great article! As for quinoa it depends on your plan, I am more than a year and a half out and at goal for six months and I still don't eat it regularly because though it does have a good Protein profile for a grain, I am on a low carb plan and its carbs and glycemic index are too high for me. So check with your doctor or dietician!

Good luck!

I am right there with you, my face makes me self conscious but I think as much of it is my age as my weight. I've waited eight months and the skin has bounced back some but not all. I am considering Botox and an ultrasound therapy for my neck.

Yes!! And rings and bracelets and all that!

Process the lot of in the food processor till it's about the consistency of the inside of a fig newton. Sometimes I will roll the balls in coconut flour, almond meal or just shredded unsweetened coconut so they are easier to pack and handle.

There are lots of other flavors. Try Syntrax Nectars they are think and fruity, or they have an iced tea one, not like milkshakes. Chike and Click and BSN Syntha 6 make coffee/latte/mochacchino ones. I found a snickerfoodle one I love. Quest makes a great Peanut Butter cookie one. There's a brand that comes in a clear bottle whose name is escaping me now it comes in fruity thin flavors too like grape and alpine punch and green apple, not thick milkshake ones. Make your own with unflavored Protein powder in a blender with frozen fruit or Greek Yogert, throw in some torani syrup. If you get the protein in you won't be starving. Oh and for what it's worth I've never liked the Premier either, even though it's praised all over the board. You have to find what works for you. I think you are referring to Isopure. I wouldn't use fruit pre-op. That's the one thanks! I would check w doc about fruit pre op. I wouldn't try banana or something higher glycemic but a handful of berries has less than 8g carbs which is less than a lot of the Protein shakes out there like Atkins or GNC 25. My doc is fine with that.

Protein supplements may be expensive but look at the amount you are NOT spending on food and it pretty much evens out. I pay $30-40 per large jug and that's pricey, sure, but it's like 20 or more meals. You can easily spend $10 a meal at a cheap fast food place. And even cooking at home is as much as the $1.50-2 per meal the protein powder costs

As for the fruit--ask your doc what they say. It's fine with mine (a handful of berries has less than 8g of carbs and some protein shakes like Atkins have a lot more than that).

Yes! There are several unflavored protein powders people use on the board! I tried several and my favorite is Quest.

There are lots of other flavors. Try Syntrax Nectars they are think and fruity, or they have an iced tea one, not like milkshakes. Chike and Click and BSN Syntha 6 make coffee/latte/mochacchino ones. I found a snickerfoodle one I love. Quest makes a great Peanut Butter cookie one. There's a brand that comes in a clear bottle whose name is escaping me now it comes in fruity thin flavors too like grape and alpine punch and green apple, not thick milkshake ones. Make your own with unflavored Protein powder in a blender with frozen fruit or Greek Yogert, throw in some torani syrup. If you get the protein in you won't be starving. Oh and for what it's worth I've never liked the Premier either, even though it's praised all over the board. You have to find what works for you.